New Study Suggests A First-In-Class Drug For Safe, Effective Topical Cure For Mild-To-Moderate Psoriasis

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Third phase experiment results presented a safe and effective topical cure for mild-to-moderate psoriasis. This is a newly synthesized nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug called benvitimod.

Benvitimod is a first-in-class drug, but the mechanism of action is not yet completely understood, Jianzhong Zhang, MD, PhD told Medscape Medical News. He and the department of dermatology at Peking University People's Hospital in Beijing, China managed the study.

There's no progress for topical treatment since vitamin D analogs reached the market in the 1980s Dr. Zhang said. He displayed their findings from the study at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting.

The research involved 686 patients, who were adults with mild-to-moderate psoriasis for at least 6 months. They were randomized to 1% benvitimod cream, 0.005% calcipotriol ointment or placebo twice a day for 12 weeks.

When the application of benvitimod was stopped, 59 patients completed a 40-week follow-up. From this, 29 patients (49.2%) remained in remission and 30 (50.8%) had their psoriasis return at 40 weeks. The average recurrence time was 36 weeks. 

Side effects were higher in the benvitimod group (44.5%) as compared with calcipotriol (19.5%) and placebo (20.2%). However, the most commonly side effects were temporary mild-to-moderate erythema, sting, or a warm feeling at the application area.

"Benvitimod has some local irritation, but it is mild to moderate. If you continue to use it, the irritation will disappear," Dr. Zhang said. There were no reported treatment-related antagonistic effects in the body's system. Out of 686 research participants, two of them experienced intense adverse effects, both contact dermatitis, he added.

TIME also reported that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved an injectable drug Siliq (broadalumab). This is to cure moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults.

The drug was known to be linked with suicidal tendency and behaviors. Therefore, Siliq will be sold with a "black box" cautionary and be strictly prescribed to chosen patients. These include people with psoriasis that didn't respond or halted reacting to phototherapy or to oral and other injectable drugs.